Spend a Day in Des Moines Washington
As a current resident in Seattle Southside and a native born of the Pacific Northwest, I have experienced most of what this beautiful area has to offer.
Des Moines is one of my favorite places to hang out because of the small town atmosphere and scenic views that surrounds the area. It is a quaint little town that is located on the Puget Sound and has delicious eateries.
Whether you are a resident or tourist, Des Moines is a great place for a day trip (especially Saturday) because of the fun filled activities to do!
Saturday is a great to visit because the Des Moines Waterfront features the Farmer’s Market.
Day Trip on Saturday:
To start off your morning I would suggest driving down to the waterfront around 10:30am and you will see a gathering of white tents. There are a variety of locally produced goods from vendors who have flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, crafts, honey, wine, and a diversity of food dishes that are ready to eat. It is a great place to take your friends and family because there is so much to see and taste!
Many vendors sell organic produce and grass-fed meats, flower bouquets are beautifully arranged, and the farmers are so friendly and helpful. There is live music which makes the morning even more delightful! One of my favorite vendors to stop at is Tonnemaker Family Orchard because they have the best apple cider. It tastes like you are drinking a juicy apple! Another good one is Oriental Fine Foods; their marinated meats are so tender and delicious! Shine Girlz also has unique and funky jewelry that is created by two sisters and a niece who are passionate about their creations.
Click for more information about the farmer's market.
If your stomach is craving food after walking around the market, Anthony’s Homeport is right next door! Seattle is well-acknowledged for seafood and Anthony’s is the perfect place to experience this type of cuisine.
Brunch is served on Sundays and some of their famous dishes include their award winning Dungeness Crab Cakes Benedict and their New Orleans French Toast. It is even made accordingly to an authentic New Orleans recipe! It is absolutely amazing because the toast is soaked in a custard batter then baked golden brown! Yummy!
To extend your pleasant day in the city of Des Moines be sure to walk the boardwalk and head to the Beach Park and Heritage Trail. It is the birthplace of Des Moines and has 13 markers that display information throughout various eras.
The spacious park has access to the beach when the tide is out. I find it a relaxing area and it is the perfect park to watch the sunset! I like getting food to-go from my favorite sushi restaurant, Kaihana and then I eat it at the park down by the water.
There are several quaint shops in the area as well like Carriage Country Quilts, All Points Yarn, and B & E Meat and Seafood. Carriage Country Quilts offers Aunt Gracie reproductions with hand dyed wools, penny rug kits, quilt kits, and all of your embroidery needs.
B & E Meat and Seafood are well-known for their exceptional meats which have a variety of choices like kalbi beef and chicken, carne asada, carne pollo, garlic chicken breast, beef short ribs, beef jerky, etc. Customers leave happy since the workers are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the products they sell.
Another great place to visit on Saturdays is the Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST Center). The Center is the marine science laboratory for Highline Community College. On Saturdays they open their aquariums to the public from 10:00am-2:00pm.
There are 11 aquariums including two touch tanks and there are always great volunteers excited to talk to visitors about the animals and their environment. Admission is free!
On your next outing, come to Des Moines so you can try some new food, be a part of the energy at the Farmer’s Market, and watch the gorgeous sunset as it hits the Puget Sound.
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